OF THE HINDUS, 351 



f* That which is in the fun and thus called light, 

 or effulgent power, is adorable and muft be wor- 

 fhipped by them who dread fucceffive births and 

 deaths, and who eagerly defire beatitude. The being, 

 who may be teen in the folar orb, muft be contem- 

 plated by the understanding, to obtain exemption 

 from fucceffive births and deaths and various pains." 



The prayer is preceded by the names of the feven 

 worlds, as epithets of it, to denote its efficacy ; Sig- 

 nifying, ' that this light pervades and illumines the 

 icven worlds, which, iituated one above the other, are 

 the icven maniions of all beings : they are called the 

 icven abodes, felf-exiftent, in a former period, re- 

 novated in this. Thefe feven myiterious words, are 

 celebrated as the names of the feven worlds. The 

 place where all beings, whether fixed or moveable, 

 cxift is called Earth, which is the firft world. That ':: 

 which beings exift a fecond time, but without fen- 

 fat ion, again to become fenfible at the clofe of the 

 period appointed for the duration of the prefent uni- 

 verfe, is the world of re-exiftence. The abode of the 

 good, where cold, heat, and light are perpetually 

 produced, is named Heaven. The intermediate re- 

 gion, between the upper and lower worlds, is deno- 

 minated the Middle World. The heaven where ani- 

 mals, deftroyed in a general conflagration at the clofe 

 of the appointed period, arc born again, is thence 

 called the World of Births. That in which Sanaca 

 and other fons of Bra'hma, juftified by aufiere de- 

 votion, refide, exempt from all dominion, is. thence 

 named the Manfion of the Blelfed. Truth, the feventh 

 world, and the abode of Bra'hme, is placed on the 

 fummit above other worlds; it is attained by true 

 knowledge, by the regular difcharge of duties, and by 

 veracity : once attained, it is never loft. Truth is, in- 

 deed, the feventh world, therefore, called the Sub- 

 lime Abode." 



Y 4 The 



